Extension Master Gardener Volunteers: The Key to Physical and Financial Management of Demonstration Gardens

摘要

Demonstration gardens are providing the real experiences needed to promote learning, both at a casual, self directed level, as well as at an intentional, planned level. Visits to gardens and other demonstration sites have been shown to increase motivation to learn, increase interest and receptivity to learning, result in greater enthusiasm and attentiveness in the classroom, and promote attitude change. Horticultural Extension agents use gardens to demonstrate and enhance learning in areas includingcomposting, creating wildlife habitat, choosing the right plant for site conditions, storm water best management practices, and environmental landscape design and maintenance principles in programs for youth, families, homeowners, Master Gardener volunteers, and green industry professionals. AH 35 of the Cooperative Extension Horticulture Agents in North Carolina who currently use demonstration gardens in their programs were interviewed regarding a variety of demonstration garden factors including sources of support and volunteer involvement. Fifteen categories of support were identified and scored as "One-Time", "Occasional", or "On-Going". Master Gardener volunteers were cited most frequently over all (31 times) as sources of garden support, as wellas the most frequent source of ongoing support of Extension demonstration gardens (26 times). Master Gardeners were also the most frequently identified source of funding and volunteer labor. As volunteers, Master Gardeners were actively involved in the physical aspects of garden development and maintenance, fundraising, publicity and marketing, and education.